Scottish Executive

Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the use of limited duration tenancies (LDT), as created by the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003

Ross Finnie: Information provided by respondents to our recent Agricultural and Horticultural Census suggests that, as at 1 June 2004, over 100 limited duration tenancies and a similar number of short limited duration tenancies had been entered into.

  I understand there is significant demand among potential tenants for these new tenancies. I will expect landowners to offer more LDTs in the near future, as experience of the 2003 act grows and following the introduction of the new single farm payment.

Airports

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many days wind speeds rose above 39 miles per hour at Tingwall Airport, Shetland, in each of the last four years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The nearest weather station to Tingwall is at Lerwick. Information on the number of days mean wind speeds exceeded 39 miles per hour at Lerwick has been obtained from the Met Office and is set out in the table below:

  

Location
2000
2001
2002
2003


Lerwick
48 days
35 days
36 days
31 days



  Winds in excess of 39 miles per hour are classified by the Met Office as gale force. Winds of such force are, however, not necessarily critical to the ability of aircraft to take off or land. Other factors such as the type of aircraft and wind direction are also relevant. While for example a gale force cross wind would prevent a fixed wing aircraft from talking off or landing, helicopters, such as those available under the arrangements with the Air Ambulance Service preferred provider, would not be so affected by such winds. If the weather conditions were of such severity to prevent the contracted air ambulance aircraft from flying, the ambulance service would call upon the services of the Coastguard or the Ministry of Defence.

Airports

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many days Tingwall Airport, Shetland, was closed due to fog in each year since 2000.

Mr Andy Kerr: There have been no days when Tingwall Airport has been closed due to fog since 2000. If the closure of an airport affected air ambulance services, then the Scottish Ambulance Service would consider calling upon the services of the Coastguard or the Ministry of Defence.

Ambulance Service

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many days air ambulances in (a) the Highlands, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) the Western Isles were unable to fly as a result of poor weather conditions in each of the last four years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Ambulance Service does not retain records on the number of occasions aircraft were unable to fly due to the weather. However, when contracted aircraft are restricted due to severe weather conditions the ambulance service will call upon the services of the Coastguard or the Ministry of Defence.

Ambulance Service

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many journeys were undertaken by air ambulances to (a) Inverness and (b) Aberdeen from (i) the Highlands, (ii) Orkney, (iii) Shetland and (iv) the Western Isles in each of the last four years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following table records the number of air ambulance journeys undertaken in each of the areas and delivered to Aberdeen and Inverness:

  

 
Delivered To


2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Area Pick Up
Aberdeen
Inverness
Aberdeen
Inverness
Aberdeen
Inverness
Aberdeen
Inverness


Highlands
125
374
93
339
82
283
123
380


Orkney
198
0
210
0
246
4
317
13


Shetland
193
1
225
1
193
1
212
0


Western Isles
7
69
4
81
4
83
6
76

Ambulance Service

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision has been made for the transportation of medical teams back to their relative areas of departure under the proposed new system for air ambulance transfer.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Ambulance Service currently endeavours to return medical escorts to their home base if it is practical to do so. That commitment will continue under the proposed new system. The ambulance service also has arrangements with a number of mainland NHS boards that provide for medical retrieval teams attached to the receiving hospitals to go out with the air ambulance to remote and rural areas.

Ambulance Service

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected budget is for air ambulance services covering (a) the Highlands, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) the Western Isles for each of the next four years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The budget for air ambulance services across Scotland will be determined by the Scottish Ambulance Service when it receives its revenue allocations from the Scottish Executive Health Department. The allocation for 2005-06 will be made shortly.

Ambulance Service

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the actual costs were for air ambulance services to (a) the Highlands, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) the Western Isles in each of the last four years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The direct costs incurred by the air ambulance service for each of the last four years are shown in the following table:

  

 
Financial Year


2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Air Ambulance Outturn
£5.4 million
£6.1 million
£6.1 million
£6.6 million

Ambulance Service

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many air ambulance journeys were carried out from within the Highland Council area in each of the last five years, detailing where such journeys originated.

Mr Andy Kerr: The detail of where the air ambulance journeys within Highland area originated from for the last five years is shown in the following table :

  

Highland Activity by Pick Up Point
 
 
Year
 
 
 


Pick up From
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
Total


A82
 
 
 
1
 
1


A82 2 Miles Nth of Invergarry
 
 
 
 
1
1


A82 Altsia Youth Hostel
 
 
 
1
 
1


A82 At Urquhart Castle
 
 
 
1
 
1


A82 Invergarry
 
 
 
1
 
1


A82 Sth Inverness
 
1
 
 
 
1


A831 Drumnadrochit
1
 
 
 
 
1


A835 North of Garve
 
 
1
 
 
1


A836 Tongue
 
 
 
 
1
1


A839 Lairg
 
 
1
 
 
1


A850 Broadford
 
 
1
 
 
1


A861 - B6002 Salon Junction
 
 
 
1
 
1


A862 Ardfern Nurseries
 
 
1
 
 
1


A87
 
 
 
1
 
1


A87 At Clunie Inn
 
 
1
 
 
1


A87 At Cluny
 
1
 
 
 
1


A87invermorrison
 
1
 
 
 
1


A88 8 Miles from Inverness
 
 
 
1
 
1


A889 Laggan
 
 
 
 
1
1


A9
 
 
 
1
 
1


A9 Blair Athol
 
 
1
 
 
1


A9 Jcn A89 Dalwhinnie
 
1
 
 
 
1


A9 North of Tamatin
 
 
1
 
 
1


A9 Slochd Summit
1
 
 
 
 
1


A9 Sth Latheron
 
 
 
1
 
1


A9 Tomatin
 
 
 
1
 
1


A95 Drumluie
 
 
 
 
1
1


A96 Nairn Side
 
1
 
 
 
1


A96 Near Brodie
 
 
 
 
1
1


Abbriachoan
 
 
 
 
1
1


Achanalt
1
 
 
 
 
1


Acharacle
1
2
2
 
1
6


Achiltibuie
 
 
1
 
 
1


Achmelvich
1
 
 
 
 
1


Achmonie
 
 
 
 
1
1


Achnasheen
1
 
 
1
3
5


Advie
 
1
 
1
 
2


Alness
2
 
4
 
3
9


Alves
 
 
 
 
1
1


Applecross
2
1
1
 
1
5


Arasaig
 
 
 
1
 
1


Ardgay
 
 
 
 
2
2


Ardnamurcahn
 
2
 
 
 
2


Ardnamurchan
 
 
1
2
 
3


Ardnish
 
1
 
 
 
1


Argey
 
 
 
 
1
1


Ashnasheen Junction
1
 
 
 
 
1


Auchilboute
 
 
 
1
 
1


Auchnasheen
 
 
 
2
 
2


Auchternead
 
1
 
 
 
1


Auerty
 
 
 
1
 
1


Aultbea
 
 
1
 
 
1


Aultharra
 
 
 
1
 
1


Aunchnabat
1
 
 
 
 
1


Aviemore
3
1
3
1
3
11


B801 Big Brae Kinlochbervie
 
 
 
 
1
1


Balblair
 
 
 
 
1
1


Ballintore
 
1
 
 
 
1


Balloch
 
 
 
1
 
1


Bannar Bridge
 
 
 
 
1
1


Barrasdale
 
1
 
 
 
1


Beauly
2
1
1
1
4
9


Beauly To Inverness
 
 
1
 
 
1


Ben Wyvis
 
 
 
 
1
1


Berrydale
 
 
 
1
 
1


Bettyhill
1
1
1
1
2
6


Between Rosemarie and Cromarty
 
1
 
 
 
1


Beuly
1
 
 
 
 
1


Black Isle
 
1
 
1
 
2


Blackpark
 
1
 
 
 
1


Bonar Bridge
 
 
 
1
 
1


Borrereig Piping Centre
 
 
1
 
 
1


Broadford
21
112
131
92
120
476


Broadford Helipad
 
1
 
 
 
1


Brora
2
1
 
1
1
5


Cairngorms
 
1
 
3
1
5


Caithness
 
1
1
1
1
4


Canna
1
1
 
2
1
5


Cannich
2
2
 
4
 
8


Carbost
 
1
1
 
 
2


Carrbridge
1
 
 
 
 
1


Castletown
 
2
 
 
1
3


Cawdor
 
 
 
1
 
1


Clunie
1
 
1
1
 
3


Corpach
 
 
 
 
6
6


Corran
1
 
 
 
 
1


Craigellachie
1
 
 
 
 
1


Crannich
 
1
 
 
 
1


Cromarty
2
1
 
1
2
6


Cromarty Lighthouse
 
 
 
1
 
1


Croy
 
 
 
 
1
1


Culloden
 
 
1
1
1
3


Dalcross (*)
3
5
 
4
140
152


Dalwhinnie
2
2
 
 
1
5


Daviot
1
 
 
 
 
1


Delny
 
 
 
 
1
1


Dingwall
3
1
 
1
8
13


Dores
 
 
1
1
1
3


Dornach
 
 
 
1
 
1


Dornoch
 
4
 
2
1
7


Drumadrochit
 
 
 
 
2
2


Drumbeg
 
 
 
 
2
2


Drumechter
 
 
 
 
1
1


Drumnadrochit
3
1
1
2
1
8


Drumochter
1
 
 
 
 
1


Dulmane
 
 
 
 
1
1


Dundonnel
 
1
 
 
 
1


Dundonnell
 
 
 
1
 
1


Durness
1
1
1
 
 
3


Eigg
3
5
4
4
2
18


Euinort
1
 
 
 
 
1


Evanton
 
1
 
 
 
1


Ewe
 
 
 
1
 
1


Farr
1
 
 
 
 
1


Fearn
 
1
 
 
1
2


Fort Augustus
6
2
3
3
5
19


Fort George
 
 
 
1
 
1


Fort Tuick
 
 
 
1
 
1


Fort William
41
69
63
38
23
234


Fortrose
 
 
 
 
2
2


Foyers
 
 
 
1
 
1


Gairloch
 
6
3
2
6
17


Garve
 
 
1
 
1
2


Glen Affrick
 
 
 
1
1
2


Glen Docherty
 
 
1
 
 
1


Glen Etive
 
1
 
 
 
1


Glen Morriston
 
 
1
 
 
1


Glen Urquhart
1
 
 
 
 
1


Glencoe
1
 
 
1
1
3


Gleneig
 
 
 
1
 
1


Glenelg
 
1
 
 
 
1


Glenfinnan-Mallaig Road
 
1
 
 
 
1


Glenmoriston
 
 
 
 
1
1


Glenmorriston
 
 
 
 
1
1


Glennan
1
 
 
 
 
1


Golspie
7
6
6
3
5
27


Gouchigan
1
 
 
 
 
1


Granton
 
 
 
 
1
1


Grantown
1
2
1
 
1
5


Grantown on Spey
 
 
 
2
2
4


Grantown on Spey
1
 
 
 
1
2


Helmsdale
 
1
2
 
1
4


Highland
2
 
 
 
 
2


I Mile North Of Latheron
 
 
1
 
 
1


Inchnadamph
 
 
 
 
1
1


Invergarry
 
 
 
1
3
4


Invergarry and Loch Loyne
1
 
 
 
 
1


Invergordon
2
3
1
1
3
10


Invermorriston
 
1
1
1
 
3


Invermorrsiton
 
1
 
 
 
1


Inverness (*)
109
228
194
165
76
772


Invershen
 
 
 
 
1
1


Invershin
 
 
 
1
 
1


Invershin Junction
 
 
 
1
 
1


Isle Of Canna
 
 
 
 
2
2


Isle Of Eigg
 
2
 
 
2
4


Isle Of Muck
 
1
 
2
2
5


Isle Of Raasay
 
 
 
 
1
1


Isle Of Rhum
 
 
 
1
 
1


Isle Of Skye
 
 
 
 
1
1


John O'groats
 
 
1
1
 
2


Keiss
1
 
 
 
 
1


Kilchoan
2
 
 
1
3
6


Kildonan
1
 
 
 
 
1


Kildonnan
1
 
 
 
 
1


Killmuir
 
2
 
 
 
2


Kinbrace
 
1
 
1
1
3


Kincraig
1
 
 
 
 
1


Kingairloch
 
 
 
 
1
1


Kingussie
 
 
1
1
1
3


Kinlochbervie
 
3
 
3
2
8


Kinlochewe
 
 
 
 
1
1


Kinlochleven
 
1
 
 
 
1


Kinlochourn
1
 
 
 
 
1


Kinlochu
 
 
 
 
1
1


Kirkbost
 
 
 
1
 
1


Kirkhill
 
1
 
 
 
1


Knoydart
1
 
 
 
 
1


Kyle
1
4
2
 
2
9


Kyle Of Lochalsh
 
 
2
 
1
3


Kylesku
1
 
 
 
 
1


Laggan
1
 
1
1
 
3


Laggan Bridge
 
 
 
 
1
1


Laggan Lochs
 
 
1
 
 
1


Lairg
1
 
2
1
3
7


Lairg A836
 
1
 
 
 
1


Larighru
 
 
1
 
 
1


Latheronwheel
 
 
 
 
1
1


Lenton
 
 
 
1
 
1


Lickmelm
 
 
 
 
1
1


Loch Carron
3
4
3
2
1
13


Loch Ewe
 
 
 
 
1
1


Loch Inver
 
1
 
 
 
1


Loch Laggan
 
1
 
1
 
2


Loch Ness
1
 
1
1
 
3


Lochaber
 
 
1
 
 
1


Lochalsh
 
 
 
 
1
1


Locharn
 
 
 
 
1
1


Lochend
 
 
 
1
1
2


Lochinver
6
4
1
2
2
15


Lochness
 
1
 
1
 
2


Lochside
 
 
1
 
 
1


Luichart
1
 
 
 
 
1


Lybister
2
 
 
 
 
2


Lybster
 
 
1
 
 
1


Mallaig
 
1
1
3
6
11


Mid Clyth
 
1
 
 
 
1


Muck
5
3
6
5
5
24


Muie
 
 
 
 
1
1


Muir Of Ord
 
 
2
 
3
5


Nairn
2
2
1
1
2
8


Near Cluny Dam
 
 
1
 
 
1


Near Newtonmore
 
 
1
 
 
1


New Bridge
 
 
 
 
1
1


Newton More
1
 
 
1
 
2


Newtonmore
 
1
 
1
 
2


Nigg
1
 
 
 
 
1


North Achnasheen
 
1
 
 
 
1


North Kessock
1
 
 
 
1
2


North Of Loch Lochie
1
 
 
 
 
1


Nr Dingwall
 
 
 
1
 
1


Nr Tain
 
 
 
1
 
1


Old Golf Course Road - Kilchoan
 
 
 
 
1
1


Plockton
 
1
 
 
 
1


Port Mahcomack
 
 
 
2
 
2


Portree
19
32
23
22
22
118


Portree To Bracadale Road
 
 
 
1
 
1


Portuirk
 
 
 
 
1
1


Raasay
1
 
 
 
 
1


Raigmore Helipad
 
 
 
 
1
1


Redpoint
 
 
 
 
1
1


Rhum
3
 
 
 
 
3


Rireavach
1
 
 
 
 
1


Rogart
 
 
1
 
 
1


Rosemarkie
1
 
1
1
1
4


Rosshire
 
 
 
 
1
1


Salen
 
2
 
 
1
3


Scanny Port
 
 
 
 
1
1


Scoraig
 
2
1
1
 
4


Scourie
1
2
1
 
3
7


Scoury Surgery
1
 
 
 
 
1


Sheildig
1
 
 
 
 
1


Shelbridge Nr Kyle
 
 
 
 
1
1


Shieldaig
 
 
1
 
 
1


Shieldbridge
 
 
 
 
1
1


Shinfalls Carpark
 
 
 
1
 
1


Sidlaw
 
 
1
 
 
1


Skebo
 
 
1
 
 
1


Skiary
 
1
 
 
 
1


Skye
3
 
 
 
12
15


Sleat
1
 
 
 
 
1


Slocht Summit
 
1
 
1
 
2


South Of Ullapool
 
 
 
1
 
1


Speanbridge
 
 
 
1
 
1


Spinningdale
 
 
 
 
1
1


Steillbridge
 
 
 
1
 
1


Stour
1
 
 
 
 
1


Strathcarron
1
 
 
1
 
2


Strathpeffer
 
 
 
 
1
1


Strontain
 
1
 
 
1
2


Struiehill
 
1
 
 
 
1


Sutherland
 
1
 
 
 
1


Syre
 
 
 
 
1
1


Tain
3
4
3
7
12
29


Thurso
12
27
16
7
8
70


Thurso Playing Fields
 
2
 
 
 
2


Tomatin
1
 
 
2
 
3


Tomich
2
 
 
 
1
3


Tongue
 
1
 
1
 
2


Torbeg
 
 
 
1
 
1


Torness
 
 
 
 
1
1


Torridon
2
 
 
 
 
2


Toscaig
 
 
1
 
 
1


Tulloch
 
 
 
 
1
1


Uig Campsite
 
 
 
1
 
1


Ullapool
2
3
5
3
3
16


Urquhart
 
 
 
 
1
1


West Highland Way
 
 
 
 
1
1


Wester Ross
 
 
 
 
1
1


Whitebridge
 
 
 
 
3
3


Whiterashes
 
 
 
 
1
1


Wick
113
158
107
92
129
599


Total
449
764
637
558
731
3,139



  Note: In 2003-04, recording procedures changed which meant that those patients picked up at Inverness airport began to be recorded under Dalcross – the actual location of the airport – hence the reason for the increase in the number shown under Dalcross in that year.

Antisocial Behaviour

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that individuals are aware of their rights under the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004.

Hugh Henry: The Executive is providing a range of support to ensure that individuals are aware of their rights–but also their responsibilities–under the Antisocial Behaviour Act. This will include a website and public leaflets distributed through local authorities. We are also exploring the potential for using awareness-raising initiatives at both a local and national level–working in partnership with the agencies charged with delivering support for local communities.

Communities

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage young people to apply for membership of community councils.

Tavish Scott: The Executive, through its renewing local democracy agenda, is seeking to encourage greater participation by young people at all levels of the democratic process. We will also be looking at this issue in our forthcoming review of community councils.

Community Councils

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding or professional expertise is available for community councils to help them engage with companies, in particular on planning proposals.

Malcolm Chisholm: Planning Aid for Scotland provides community councils and others with free, impartial, professional advice and information on the planning system. The service is part-funded by the Scottish Executive.

Conservation of Seals Act 1970

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licences were granted under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003 allowing persons to kill seals (i) to prevent damage to fish farms and (ii) for other purposes.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Lewis Macdonald: Licences are not granted to shoot seals in order to prevent damage to fish farms.

  The following numbers of licences were granted in order to prevent damage to fisheries:

  2001 - 12

  2002 - 13

  2003 - 13.

Crime

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle serious and organised crime.

Hugh Henry: We are continually looking at ways to meet the growing and evolving threat from serious and organised crime. We are continuing to expand the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA); we are working with the UK Government to ensure co-ordination between the new Serious and Organised Crime Agency and the Scottish criminal justice system, and we are exploring bringing some of the main law enforcement agencies, including the SDEA, together in a new purpose built campus.

Crime

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of those convicted of crimes involving graffiti in 2003 were repeat offenders and whether common profiles for repeat offenders have been created.

Cathy Jamieson: Crimes involving graffiti are not identified separately from other crimes in the category "vandalism, malicious damage and malicious mischief" in the Scottish Executive Justice Department classification of crimes and offences. In 2002, the latest year for which information is currently available, there were 3,470 convictions in total where the main offence involved was vandalism, malicious damage or malicious mischief. Nine per cent of these involved offenders who had one or more previous convictions for such offences since the start of 1989. Some information on the reconviction profiles of person convicted of criminal damage (which includes crimes of vandalism etc) was published in the statistical bulletin Reconvictions of offenders discharged from custody or given non-custodial sentences in 1997, Scotland published by the Scottish Executive in March 2003, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference centre (Bib. number 27185).

Crime

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1085 by Hugh Henry on 22 July 2003, how many offences have been committed under sections 47 as amended and 49 of the Criminal law (Consolidation ) (Scotland) Act 1995, and sections 139 and 141 as amended of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 in each year since 2003, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table. The recorded crime statistics collected centrally do not distinguish legislation at the level of detail requested. In consequence some of the figures given in the tables may include offences recorded under legislation other than that specified in the question.

  Crimes of "Handling an Offensive Weapon" Recorded by the Police 2003

  

  
Possession of an Offensive Weapon (Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995)
Having in a Public Place an Article with a Blade or Point1
Restriction of Offensive Weapons2


Scotland
5,276
3,567
11


Aberdeen City
207
103
0


Aberdeenshire
116
31
0


Angus
17
10
0


Argyll and Bute
40
38
1


Clackmannanshire
66
11
0


Dumfries and Galloway
109
39
0


Dundee City
84
54
0


East Ayrshire
111
54
0


East Dunbartonshire
64
28
0


East Lothian
46
19
0


East Renfrewshire
43
33
0


Edinburgh, City of 
430
182
2


Eilean Siar
9
3
0


Falkirk
121
46
0


Fife
111
68
1


Glasgow, City of
1,653
1,587
0


Highland
183
59
0


Inverclyde
116
169
0


Midlothian
61
17
0


Moray
68
27
0


North Ayrshire
144
100
1


North Lanarkshire
354
182
0


Orkney Islands
1
3
0


Perth and Kinross
41
13
0


Renfrewshire
194
179
3


Scottish Borders
70
37
0


Shetland Islands
1
2
0


South Ayrshire
54
39
1


South Lanarkshire
361
278
1


Stirling
93
23
1


West Dunbartonshire
184
102
0


West Lothian
124
31
0



  Notes:

  1. Includes all offences recorded under the Criminal law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 sections 49 and 49A, and the Carrying of Knives etc (Scotland) Act 1993 section 1.

  2. Includes all offences recorded under the Criminal Justice Act sections 141 and 141A, and the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959.

Defence

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what economic impact Scotland’s regiments being amalgamated into one regiment will have on communities where Black Watch soldiers are traditionally recruited.

Allan Wilson: The Ministry of Defence have yet to announce their final decision on the future of the Scottish regiments, including the Black Watch.

Discrimination

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s (COPFS) report into the impact of section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act (2003), which makes specific reference to offences aggravated by religious prejudice, will be published, as referred to in Tackling Religious Hatred – Update on the Recommendations of the Cross-party Working Group on Religious Hatred .

Colin Boyd QC: The report is now available on the COPFS website:

  http://www.crownoffice.gov.uk/publications/invrepofsect.doc.

Education

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the shortage of teachers in schools.

Peter Peacock: There is not a shortage of teachers at the national level. Wherever we see the possibility of national shortages or surpluses in teachers for particular subjects we adjust our workforce planning assumptions accordingly.

Education

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are employed by Learning and Teaching Scotland in its Dundee office.

Peter Peacock: Sixty-two staff are currently employed by Learning and Teaching Scotland in their Dundee office.

Elderly People

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle problems faced by elderly people in their homes during periods of cold weather.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive encourages older people to access the variety of services available to them such as flu vaccinations, the warm deal insulation programme and the central heating programme. We have challenged fuel companies to offer a tariff to people on pension credit to ensure they do not fall into fuel poverty. Further, we would encourage older people to ensure they are receiving any entitlements, such as the winter fuel payment, pension credit and attendance allowance.

Employment

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response was to the consultation which ended on 22 September 2004 on a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/88/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time and whether it will publish the response.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive made no formal individual response to the DTI consultation but has been fully involved in developing the UK position on the Working Time Directive proposals.

Enterprise

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the refresh of A Smart, Successful Scotland .

Mr Jim Wallace: The refreshed version of A Smart, Successful Scotland  (SSS) is being published today. During the refresh, the Executive has considered the views of Parliament and a wide range of stakeholder organisations. The new A Smart, Successful Scotland develops the key themes of our Framework for Economic Development in Scotland –  namely economic growth; regional development; closing the opportunity gap and sustainable development. SSS will maintain its purpose as strategic direction to the Enterprise Networks, but is also presented as a broader enterprise strategy for Scotland.

  As a medium-term strategy, the broad priorities of SSS remain the same but they have been updated to reflect both progress and continuing challenges. For example, more emphasis is placed on the need for effective partnership to ensure delivery of priorities, growing businesses of scale and the need for integrated approaches to regeneration. The refreshed SSS makes clear that all enterprise network activity should have a primary economic rationale and should seek to close the opportunity gap as part of that activity.

  Copies of the document have been placed at the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34354).

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the creation of green jobs.

Mr Jim Wallace: We are committed to working with business to produce a green jobs strategy.

  I am confident that there are real opportunities for Scottish businesses in the developing environmental sectors – particularly the three "big wins" of renewable energy, waste and recycling, and resource efficiency. I believe that Scotland is well-placed to establish itself as a world leader in these fields.

  We received 92 responses to our consultation paper "Towards a Green Jobs Strategy: opportunities for business". We are now at the final stage of the consultative process - Ross Finnie and I will address a conference tomorrow in Glasgow to give key stakeholders a further opportunity to discuss how best to take forward this policy.

Gambling

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government regarding the proposed new gambling legislation; what representations it has made in respect of Scotland; what the procedures will be for implementing any UK legislation, and what steps it will take to ensure that Scotland’s distinct position is acknowledged and that the Parliament is involved in the process.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the proposed new gambling legislation. Scottish ministers will have a wider range of controls under the new system including power to set licence fees and licence conditions.

  Scottish ministers will be fully involved in procedures for implementation of the new regime and will be consulted prior to the UK Government deciding when to commence the new arrangements.

  A Sewel motion on the devolved aspects of the bill will be presented to the Scottish Parliament in due course.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many excess winter deaths of people (a) of all ages, (b) aged 60 to 74, (c) aged 75 to 84 and (d) aged 85 or over there were in each year since 1994-95 in (i) Scotland, (ii) each parliamentary constituency and (iii) each NHS board area.

Tavish Scott: There is no universally accepted definition of "excess winter deaths". A number of options were discussed in an Occasional Paper entitled The Raised Incidence of Winter Deaths published in 2002 by the General Register Office for Scotland and available at: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/grosweb/grosweb.nsf/pages/occ7 .

  The following table, which presents the data requested for Scotland, gives the difference between the number of deaths occurring in the four winter months (December to March) and the average of the number of deaths during the preceding four months and the following four months. Detailed tables presenting similar information for parliamentary constituencies and health board areas have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 34231).

  Number of Deaths in Winter Period Compared with Average of Non-Winter Period, Scotland

  

Age Group 
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99


All ages
2,310
3,650
3,640
2,610
4,750


60-74
470
980
780
790
960


75-84
930
1,420
1,350
950
1,660


85 and over
760
1,120
1,350
760
1,920



  

 
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02 
2002-03
2003-04


All ages
5,190
2,220
1,840
2,510
2,840


 60-74
1,250
480
290
450
610


 75-84
1,820
820
820
940
840


 85 and over
1,750
760
710
920
1,170



  Note: The information for 2003-04 is provisional.

Housing

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA regarding the impact of the right to buy scheme on the availability of affordable social housing.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive consulted widely with a number of stakeholders including COSLA and local authorities during the affordable housing review. The impact of the right to buy was amongst the issues raised in response to that consultation exercise.

  COSLA has also been involved in discussions with the Scottish Executive on the structure of the report on the effect of the right to buy which is required to be published by ministers by September 2006 under section 52 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. We will consult further with COSLA on the scope of the report.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has allocated for (a) judicial pay and (b) increasing the judicial complement in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: The information is given in the following table:

  

Financial Year
Judges
Sheriffs
Total Pay Bill for Judges and Sheriffs (£ Million)


1999-2000
27
122
16.346


2000-01
32
129
18.919


2001-02
32
136
19.757


2002-03
32
136
21.414


2003-04
32
136
23.496


2004-05
34ø
140
23.788



  Note: øIncrease of two subject to approval of an Order currently before Parliament.

Local Government Finance

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Aberdeen City Council, whether the council’s budget was discussed and what the outcome was.

Tavish Scott: I met Aberdeen City Council on 1 October 2004 where the Council advised me of their funding concerns.

  Following the meeting, the council has since written to the Executive outlining their concerns which are primarily in relation to funding children’s services. The Deputy Minister for Education and Young People will be responding shortly to address these concerns.

Low Pay

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the issue of low pay in the South of Scotland.

Allan Wilson: Growing the economy is the Executive’s top priority and our policies are directed to that end. Our focus is on competitiveness through high value, high skills activity. The refreshed A Smart, Successful Scotland , which the Deputy First Minister launched this morning, makes it clear that we need to support business growth, that we need to develop a high-skill workforce and ensure that people and areas have the opportunity to realise their economic potential.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to encourage people with mental health problems to access direct payments.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive funds Direct Payments Scotland (DPS) and the Scottish Personal Assistants Employers Network (SPAEN) to assist those that are eligible to receive direct payments, those with mental health problems being one such group.

Ministerial Correspondence

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning will reply to my letter of 13 July 2004 regarding the rules concerning payment of the educational maintenance allowance.

Mr Jim Wallace: As you are aware we received a number of representations on this issue and I asked my officials to look again at the eligibility criteria set out for the national rollout of the EMA programme.

  Holding replies were sent to outstanding Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) correspondents in August outlining the reasons for the delay in responding to them. Your letter was received on 27 July 2004 but it would appear that your holding letter was missed in this process. I apologise for the delay in answering your original letter and hope that the subsequent final reply sent on 26 October 2004 addresses your constituent Mrs Jane McEwan’s original query.

NHS Staff

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9898 by Malcolm Chisholm on 1 September 2004, how many locum consultants were working in the NHS in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) speciality and (b) NHS board area.

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS locum medical staff there currently are, broken down by (a) NHS board area and (b) speciality.

Mr Andy Kerr: The question requires a considerable level of detail in the answer and a copy of the information (Bib. number 34107) has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

NHS Waiting Times

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has investigated the comments made by the MSP for Glasgow, Nicola Sturgeon, at First Minister’s questions on 7 October 2004, regarding the service provided by NHS Lothian.

Mr Andy Kerr: We have done so. In response to the Executive’s request, NHS Lothian has provided a detailed report. It is clear that much of what was claimed by the MSP was inaccurate. As far as we are aware, Ms Sturgeon made no effort to check the facts with the NHS board before she made her claims. The medical staff who cared for the patient have sought an apology from Ms Sturgeon to all of the staff concerned. I hope that she has done so.

NHS Waiting Times

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time (a) is currently and (b) was in each of the last three years for orthopaedic surgery in each NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: Centrally collected information on waiting times for in-patient and day case treatment is only available retrospectively. The median waiting times for orthopaedic surgery, by NHS board area of residence, for the years ended 30 June 2002, 2003 and 2004 are given in the following table.

  The increases in median waits reflect our focus on reducing the number of patients waiting longest for treatment. A significant change in the waiting time distribution of patients treated, such as a higher number of patients who have had lengthy waits, will increase median waiting times. On 30 June 2004, no patient in Scotland with a guarantee was waiting more than nine months for orthopaedic surgery, compared with 1,395 patients on 30 June 2002.

  I refer the member to the question S2W-11087 answered on 25 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times For Orthopaedic Surgery, by NHS Board of Residence: Years Ended 30 June 2002, 2003 and 2004P

  


Median Wait (days)
During Year Ended 30 June


NHS Board
2002
2003
2004P


Argyll and Clyde
107
155
116


Ayrshire and Arran
84
83
103


Borders
75
78
83


Dumfries and Galloway
72
98
95


Fife
106
117
134


Forth Valley
113
162
176


Grampian
51
64
94


Greater Glasgow
83
105
107


Highland
78
94
139


Lanarkshire
89
107
125


Lothian
89
127
114


Orkney Islands
52
60
87


Shetland Islands
96
153
114


Tayside
76
95
95


Western Isles
43
34
61


NHSScotland
80
100
110



  Source: NHS National Services Scotland, SMR01.

  PProvisional.

Police

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to change the current system whereby members of the public are able to make a complaint or complaints against a police officer or officers.

Hugh Henry: We plan to consult next year on a new Scottish Police Bill which will include measures to reform the police complaints system by establishing a police complaints body, as outlined in our Partnership Agreement.

Police

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the restructuring of police funding announced by the Minister for Justice on 12 October 2004, what funding will be allocated (a) in total and (b) per capita on a national basis and broken down by police board area for the next three years, and how this compares with the previous three years.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is shown in the following tables:

  Police Grant Aided Expenditure (£ Million)

  

Force
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Central
36.9
40.3
42.4
46.0
48.2
51.9


Dumfries and Galloway
23.2
24.7
26.2
28.0
29.1
30.5


Fife
44.4
49.5
52.9
58.2
59.7
65.8


Grampian
72.4
78.5
84.3
89.4
93.8
101.9


Lothian and Borders
149.1
159.8
168.8
178.8
185.4
195.2


Northern
43.5
46.7
48.9
50.4
53.6
57.4


Strathclyde
389.1
421.0
444.1
476.4
496.3
513.5


Tayside
63.5
68.3
71.4
76.4
79.2
82.7


Scotland
822.1
888.8
939.0
1,003.6
1,045.2
1,098.9



  GAE Per Capita (£)

  

Force
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Central
132
144
151
164
172
185


Dumfries and Galloway
157
168
178
190
198
207


Fife
127
141
150
165
170
187


Grampian
138
150
161
171
179
195


Lothian and Borders
168
180
190
201
209
220


Northern
158
169
177
182
194
208


Strathclyde
177
191
202
216
225
233


Tayside
164
177
185
198
205
214


Scotland
163
176
186
198
207
217



  Note: GAE figures per capita for 2005-06 to 2007-08 are calculated using the latest population estimates at 30 June 2003.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prospective prison custody officers employed by Reliance have passed the training programme validated by the Scottish Prison Service.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS has no record of how many people have passed the Reliance prisoner custody officer training course which is entirely a matter for the company. RCS staff require to be cleared by Disclosure Scotland, and are required to pass a fitness test as well as the RCS training course before they are certified by SPS, so not all staff who pass the training will be certified.

Public Sector Staff

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relocate public sector jobs from Edinburgh.

Tavish Scott: Our relocation policy aims to ensure that government in Scotland is efficient and decentralised, bringing benefits to the whole of Scotland by spreading public sector posts across the country.

  There are currently around 1,800 posts being considered for relocation under on-going reviews, and almost all of these are presently in Edinburgh.

Rail Network

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the Waverley railway project outline business case sent to it by the Waverley Railway Partnership on 8 June 2004.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive will respond to the Waverley Railway’s outline business case once it has considered the implications of the delay to the Parliamentary Bill.

Rail Network

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to open or reopen rural railway stations in the north east.

Nicol Stephen: Proposals to open or re-open stations are best promoted, in the first instance, by the relevant local authority or regional transport partnership. Currently, plans are in the process of development for stations at Kintore, Newtonhill and Laurencekirk.

Rail Network

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to establish a new station at Ballinluig on the Perth to Inverness rail line.

Nicol Stephen: Proposals to re-open stations are best promoted, in the first instance, by the relevant local authority or regional transport partnership. The Scottish Executive is unaware of any proposal to open a new station at Ballinluig.

Regional Government

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government over the outcome of the North East Assembly referendum and the impact this would have on Scotland.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government and has been kept informed about the evolution of proposals to establish assemblies in English regions. However, we have not specifically discussed the outcome of the North East Assembly referendum.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its definition is of targeted spend on capital projects compared to actual capital spend.

Mr Tom McCabe: We do not use the term "targeted spend", so there is no formal definition within our public expenditure framework.

  Of course, our spending is targeted on our key priorities, as set out in the Partnership Agreement and in Building a Better Scotland: Enterprise Opportunity and Fairness. Growing the Economy; Delivering Excellent Public Services; Supporting Stronger, Safer Communities and Developing a Confident, Democratic Scotland–these are the issues that matter to the Scottish People, and it is right that this is where we should concentrate our resources.

  Our capital budget is published in the annual budget documents, and actual spend is then reported in the Executive’s accounts and when we report End Year Flexibility numbers to the Parliament.

  For 2003-04, the latest year for which provisional data is available, the DEL capital budget at the start of the year was £1.42 billion, and the actual spend by year end was £1.35 billion.

Social Work

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what budget the Social Work Services Inspectorate will be allocated to support training programmes and initiatives for each of the next five years, expressed numerically and as a year-on-year percentage increase.

Euan Robson: Spending review figures are only available until March 2008.

  

2005-06
2006-07
% Increase on Previous Year
2007-08
% Increase on Previous Year


£20.21 million
£25.21 million
Approx 25%
£30.11 million
Approx 23%

Telecommunications

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Network Rail regarding the rollout of Global System for Mobile Telecommunications masts.

Nicol Stephen: My officials met with Network Rail during the commencement of the Strathclyde GSM-R programme, making clear that whilst the Executive welcomes improvements to rail safety and efficiency, we expect the company to undertake appropriate notification of those affected by the new masts. Network Rail have now given assurances that they will continue to consult planning authorities and elected representatives in relation to each proposal and will also inform local residents about the further roll-out of the masts.

Telecommunications

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what public consultations require to be undertaken by Network Rail regarding the proposed erection of Global System for Mobile Telecommunications (GSM-R) masts on Network Rail property.

Nicol Stephen: There is no absolute requirement for Network Rail to undertake public consultation on this issue. However, Circular 18/1985 Developments By Statutory Undertakers – Consultation with Planning Authorities does contain guidance on the issue. It emphasises the importance of statutory undertakers - who are undertaking significant works under permitted development rights - to consult with the planning authority and to agree where necessary arrangements for notifying the public of forthcoming works.

Tourism

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing "Thistle Awards" for success in each of the niche markets promoted by VisitScotland.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: VisitScotland’s "Thistle Awards" are firmly established as the most prestigious tourism awards in Scotland, and cover a very wide range of activity. Although consideration has been given to introducing an award for each of the niche markets promoted by VisitScotland, the view is that the range of tourism endeavour already covered by the awards is wide enough.

Tourism

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the progress made by the visitscotland.com website and in what financial year it is expected to break even.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: Visitscotland.com acts as a highly-effective shop window for Scottish tourism, and promotes Scotland to a global audience. It is performing well against its business plan targets, and is generating significant business for the tourism industry in Scotland. Since its inception it has generated £22 million worth of business. It was always anticipated that it would take some years before visitscotland.com made profits. Its management is confident that it is on track to achieve profitability in the next three to four years.

Waste Management

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage local authorities to implement a system of green charges to encourage the use of environmentally-sensitive practices.

Mr Tom McCabe: We already encourage local authorities to promote environmentally-sensitive practices. For example, we provide assistance through the Strategic Waste Fund to promote recycling, waste minimisation and the diversion of waste from landfill. Charging schemes can have a role to play but each proposal would need to be considered on its merits and subject to thorough appraisal.